Enjoy Some Free Play this Summer

As VYS' spring season comes to a close, we know kids and parents are looking forward to a few unstructured, uncarpooled, untrafficed, un-overscheduled days.

But what's a parent to do when the euphoria of down time wears off or the lure of video games overtakes your child?   Embrace "Free Play" this summer!

Summer is a great time to let kids enjoy some carefree, unstructured play where they can use their imagination and other strengths to self-teach and develop within themselves. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatric's Clinical Report on The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds, in addition to being important to healthy brain development, the benefits of free play include:

• allows kids to use their creativity while developing their motor and mental skills
• helps children develop new competencies and build confidence
• enables them to ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to explore
• have fun!

At Vienna Youth Soccer, we continuously promote free play through small-sided games and pickup soccer which accompany many of our summer camps and clinics as a way to enhance each player's skills and individuality.

So this summer, embrace your backyard, kick the ball around with your child, and enjoy some of the many benefits of free play. Don't forget the sunscreen!